LIBERTY UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF DIVINITY
What is a Group?
Submitted to Dr. Rodney Dempsey
in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the completion of
DSMN 630 – D01
Small Group Ministries
by
Michael Frazier
November 14, 2021
Contents
Summary of Reading 1
Clique versus Small Group 3
What is G.R.O.U.P.? 3
Four Key Questions 5
Inward, Outward, Upward 6
Bibliography 8
Summary of Reading
While reading the assigned section for this week of both Arnold and Dempsy we learn
that small groups is not a new concept. Arnold points out, “The small group movement, whose
roots are in both the early church and later church history, became a broad phenomenon in the
late twentieth century.” There has always been prayer groups within churches, bible studies, new
member classes, Sunday School classes, small groups for kids within certain age ranges on
Wednesday nights in most churches, and to groups of men and women ministries. Like Christ
and the disciples, this has allowed for those group to form strong bonds within each other in most
cases. Christ and his disciples grew together and were like brothers. This allowed for a more
effective ministry. Arnold goes on to say, “Even though the groups differ in size and focus, the
vast majority possess several common elements. They are small and Christian in orientation,
some study occurs, and people feel loved and cared for.” Arnold discusses that Christ di not only
teach the disciples, but they lived with him daily watching his every move and action and
reaction. Learning from him truly what it meant to follow Christ and be like him. They lived life
with Christ. That is a motto you hear with a lot of small groups, “Living Life Together.” That is
the main purpose of developing small groups.
In Acts 5:42 it states, “And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to
teach and preach Jesus Christ.” The disciples continued what Jesus taught them in having small
groups meeting, learning, and growing together in Christ.
One of the key facts that Arnold brings up, is that every church has small groups, whether they
are organized small groups of ministry or cliques formed by groups of people within the church.
People associating with groups they feel comfortable with and not allowing others to join them.
Arnold states, “A small group is intent on participating with Christ in building his ever-
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expanding kingdom in the hearts of individuals, in the life of the group and, through believers,
into the world.” With this thought, Arnold continues to express the needs for groups to connect
inward, upward and outward. By this he means that a small group must care for each other
(inward), then together grow deeper in their faith and understanding of God’s word and desires
for them (upward) and finally sharing the love of Christ to their community (outward) by sharing
the gospel and reaching others to bring into the kingdom and grow into disciples.
Dempsy and Early chapters dive deep into what makes a good small group, Small groups
are more than just social times for members in the church, they are meant to follow the inward,
upward and outward plan detailed by Arnold. Dempsy, states, “Too many small group members
are like the Dead Sea. They take in rich deposits of truth and have become very deep.” By this he
means that a lot of small groups use this time as a potluck get together that has great biblical
truths shared, but they never go out in the community and share what they have learned. With
every inward and upward aspect of a small group, they must have the outward as well.
Along with this Dempsy and Early also discuss the different aspects of a heathy small
group: Welcome/ Worship/ Word/ Witness/ Works. They dive deep on these 5 aspects of a
healthy small group and how they interact and develop. Dempsy states, “Through the years I
noticed that the long-range effectiveness of a group revolved around some simple habits
practiced during group gatherings and flowed over into the week.”
Clique versus Small Group
Every church has cliques, or Tribes, as they are now being called. But they are the same
thing. My wife has been told once that she was not part of the tribe so she will never fit in. We
did not stay long at that church. Arnold tells us, “We understand from studying human practices
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that humans need small groupings for survival, support, emotional strength and stimulation.”
This is about the only thing cliques and small groups have in common. Cliques are inward
focused on those in the group, closed off to others, and have an elitist attitude among other
aspects. While small groups are spirit-focused, open to everyone, outward focused on others and
not just themselves. Small groups is looking toward the future of how they can grow and serve t
hose within the community, while cliques are more focused on the past.
What is G.R.O.U.P.?
G.R.O.U.P. is an acronym for Guided by a leader, Regular meeting times, Opens God’s
Word, United in Serving and Prayer for one another. Small groups should be different than any
other group in the community. Dempsy states, “What separates the church from secular groups is
the spiritual content (Word of God) and spiritual encouragement (prayer).”
Guided leader is the one who is in charge of the group, setting goals and making sure
they are met. They are also there to make sure the discussions stay on track and trains those who
want to become leaders.
Regular Meeting Times is something that is consistent. Not something that you meet
whenever you have time, it is more along the lines of meeting weekly or bi-weekly. This is the
time where bonds are formed as you get to know each other in the group. With regular meeting
times, regular attendance is also required. If you do not see people, how are you to get to know
them? Comiskey states, “A group of 3-15 people who meet weekly outside the church building.
Empowered by the Spirit through prayer, their purpose is to transform lives through community,
discipleship, evangelism, and multiplication.” To develop into a group that can transform lives,
you must grow together and build that relationship.
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Open God’s Word is something that is obvious one would think. Dempsy tells us,
“Among the many things we do when we meet together as a small group, we must take
responsibility to break open the Word of Life.” Every small group should be focused on the word
of God and not just man’s idea of what being a good person is. I have been in a church before
where the sermons gave by the pastor had no bases in the word of God, just the worlds view of
what a good person should be. We cannot as a group grow in God and build a deeper faith if
God’s word is not the core of the group. Any curriculum chosen should always be based on
God’s word and Christ’s teachings.
United in Serving is one that a lot of groups skip out on. As Jesus stated in Matthew
20:28, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to
minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” The focus of the group
should not be serving the group only, but also finding ways as a group you
can serve outside within the community.
Prayer for one another is always an important time. Taking the time each meeting
together to ask who in the group needs prayer and praying for them right then and there is the
simplest and most power way to show people you care. Prayer is powerful especially when two
or more are gathered.
Four Key Questions
Arnold introduced four questions we should be asking ourselves about our small groups.
•Are we introducing Christian disciplines into our small groupings?
• Are our small groupings building the kingdom or hindering the kingdom?
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Within the Men’s Ministry small group, we just completed at my church, I choose the
Tony Robbins series, Kingdom Men Rising. The intent of this group is to jump start a men’s
ministry within the church. We do not want just a social gather of men who vent to each other
about work, wives, life, but men who form the bond and help lift each other up to be Kingdom
Men minded. In order to do this, we have to start at the core of Christs teachings as we grow
together. Not just go through the motions.
• Are we training leaders who bring Christian disciplines into small groupings?
One of the biggest goals of the church is to educate and lead others to be leaders to lead
small groups and to help bring those outside our church inside and to follow Christ.
• Is our entire congregation working to develop a disciplined small group mentality?
Yes, as a church we are all working to grow the small group mentality and share it with
those outside our church. As our groups grow, we are creating more groups so those bonds can
be felt, and people do not get lost in the crowds.
Inward, Outward, Upward
Inward, Outward, and Upward is a very simple concept. As small groups we must be
intentional in how we interact with each other, Christ and the community. Arnold defines a
Christ -centered small group as. “A small group is intent on participating with Christ in building
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his ever-expanding kingdom in the hearts of individuals, in the life of the group and, through
believers, into the world.”
Inward is when we as a group care for those within the group. As a group caring for each
other, this is a time that allows each of the members to discover their gifts that God has given
them. Basically, being there foreach other when life throws curve balls and when life is coming
up roses.
Upward is having the lives transformed by the word of God, together learning, and
growing with the biblical truths that is being brought forth in every meeting. Engaging in
worship and nurturing of the spirit each week, eyes upward to God.
Outward is the key component. Christ told his small group this is the purpose of
everything in Matthew 28:19, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name
of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.” That is the key purpose of small groups,
going outward into our communities reach those around us.
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Bibliography
Arnold, Jeffrey. The Big Book on Small Groups. Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity
Press, 2004.
Comiskey, Joel. Biblical Foundations for the Cell-Based Church. Moreno
Valley, CA: CCS
Publishing, 2016.
Dempsey, Rod & Earley, Dave. Leading Healthy Growing Multiplying Small
Groups.
Lynchburg, VA: Liberty University Press, 2016.
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